Lila Senora (Olson) Mauland was born on February 15, 1926, in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County, to Lars G. and Serine Louise (Martinson) Olson. She was baptized at Israel Lutheran Church, also of Swede Prairie Township. She grew up near Clarkfield and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1943. On May 29, 1948, she was united in marriage to Herbert Mauland of Cottonwood at Israel Lutheran Church. They settled on a farm by the Yellow Medicine River in Normania Township, Yellow Medicine County. They were blessed with seven children.
Music was very important to Lila her whole life. She played piano by ear in her early years and later took piano lessons and learned how to read music. As an adult, she taught herself to play the accordion. She sang in the St. Lucas Lutheran Church choir until the choir disbanded, and also sang in duets and trios for many funerals over the years.
Lila and Herb enjoyed canoe rides along the Yellow Medicine River in their later years. She also went along with Herb on short fishing trips. Lila was an expert seamstress and sewed many clothes for her children and others. She also quilted and made many, many beautiful quilts over the years. She loved children and was always an advocate for children. Lila was a very strong, practical, loving, and giving person.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the age of 96, Lila passed away surrounded by loving family at Prairie Home Fieldcrest in Cottonwood. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herb; parents, Lars and Serine Louise Olson, and five brothers and three sisters.
Lila is survived by her daughters: Bev (Larry) Isaackson, Diane Gregoire (Dave Hubbard), Judy (Wayne) Van Maldeghem, all of Cottonwood, Mary Mauland of White Bear Lake, identical twins Lois (Doug) Albin of Clarkfield and Laurie (Gary) Knudsen of Spicer, and son Arlen (Judy) Mauland of Cleveland; grandchildren, Kari Kroger, Sara (Bill) Ward, Erin (Jake) Scandrett, Chad (Julie) Gregoire, Jon (Crystal) Gregoire, Kay Van Maldeghem (Justin Kroger), Kate (Nate) Safe, Michael (Alyssa) Maki, Melanie (Neil) Winterfeldt, Andrew (Emily) Albin, Jesse (Becky) Knudsen, Cal (Leah) Knudsen, Derek (Nikki) Mauland, and Elizabeth (Ryan) Mattison, and 30 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Vernon (Rhea) Olson, sister-in-law Ruby Olson, and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held on Monday, April 11, 2022 at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in rural Cottonwood, Normania Township. Interment was in the church cemetery. Memorials can be made to the St. Lucas Lutheran Cemetery Association or to Prairie Home Fieldcrest. Arrangements were with the J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield www.jhlynner.com.
